Corrosion in a condensate line

Customer: Hynix Semiconductor, South Korea

Microchip manufacturing requires a great deal of steam for the individual process steps. This steam is generated centrally in huge boilers, routed to the individual sections of the plant and used there. The steam condenses and returns to the boiler through condensate lines to be converted into steam again. This is standard practice because condensate is actually very pure water and, at around 80°C, also contains a great deal of energy.

The steam and condensate system at Hynix is several kilometers long and began to corrode. Measurements found an average iron content of 2.5 ppm* in the condensate. However, the company's internal quality standards permit a maximum of only 0.1 ppm iron in the water.

MERUS Rings were installed at various strategic points in the condensate system. During the trial phase, further problem areas were identified and additional MERUS Rings were fitted.

The customer's own laboratory checked the iron content of the water once a week. Little changed during the first few weeks.

Then the MERUS Rings began to take effect, and the iron concentration rose sharply. Over the following months, the iron content decreased steadily and eventually stabilized at an average of around 0.05 ppm.

The customer can now use the condensate for steam generation again. This not only saves water that no longer has to be discarded, but also eliminates the need for expensive chemical treatment and the energy required to heat fresh water.